Mandi Updates: Onion Prices Decline, Tomatoes Surge in Wholesale Market

The average wholesale prices of onion decreased while those of tomato increased slightly across the benchmark markets in March, according to the data from the Agmarknet portal run by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

The month-on-month average wholesale prices of onion fell by Rs 56.04 per quintal to Rs 2,158.74 in March. The prices slumped in Bihar, Andaman and Nicobar, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Uttarakhand.

The wholesale prices of the two essential agri-commodities skyrocketed in Madhya Pradesh. The onion wholesale prices in the state increased by 146.4% to Rs 1,624 per quintal and those of tomato increased by 218.66% to Rs 2,135 per quintal. 

The prices of the bulbous crop rose in several states and union territories such as Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Delhi. They rose in Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

However, the wholesale average prices of another important kitchen ingredient- tomato increased slightly by Rs 50.58 per quintal to Rs 2.043.83. The prices rose in Haryana, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.

Tomato wholesale prices slumped in Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Telangana, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Delhi. 

India is the second-largest producer of onions and tomatoes in the world. The prices of these two agri-commodities are essential for tracking inflation in the country. 

For those interested in exploring the prices of various crops in their respective state markets, the official website agmarknet.gov.in provides a comprehensive list. Understanding the price dynamics of different crops and their quality assessment remains pivotal in navigating market fluctuations for farmers and traders alike.